BIOGRAPHY Frances OFlynn

Text: 905-929-5194 Phone: 905-528-1487 email: francesoflynn120@gmail.com

​

Frances OFlynn has a B.A. in Fine Art and History from the University of Toronto. She continued her art education over the years with hands-on courses. Frances considers herself an abstractionist working primarily with paint pens and inks on canvas.

​

Her shows include a solo exhibition of mixed media work entitled Urban Voyeur at the Carnegie Gallery in Dundas, ON in 2010, and many group exhibitions, including: The Women's Art Association of Hamilton Exhibition at Carnegie Gallery in 2024; The Women’s Art Association of Hamilton’s Annual Open Exhibition in 2023, 2024, 2025 and Art @Seven Innovation, 2025. Frances has also participated in many group exhibitions at Propeller Gallery, Queen Street West, Toronto. Her works hang in collections in Hamilton, Toronto, and Haliburton.

​

ABOUT MY ART

I've been 'doodling/drawing' since I picked up my first crayon in Kindergarten. From the beginning, it fitted in my hand and felt as natural and comfortable as an old shoe. It forged a lasting connection between my hand and paper/canvas that continues to this day.

​

At age 14, for the first time, I participated in a cottage art exhibition alongside many well known artists from the area. I sold my doodle at the show to a neighbour, who couldn't possibly have realized how much that purchase meant to me. It was the first time my doodles and I had participated in an art exhibition, but from then on - in my mind at least - I was an artist.

​

My life as an artist took many turns. Art school wasn't meant to be, so I took Art History. I studied artists over the centuries, learned from them and loved their work. Although there was limited opportunity for studio work then, my one practical art class produced a woodcut that became my second sale.

My work career has included public relations, business writing and editing, and even selling shoes, but not art. However I still doodled my way through meetings, mark making on countless styrofoam cups and notebooks.

​

In retirement, I've upped my art game, taking courses and joining the Women's Art Association of Hamilton. I've had two solo shows in the area. St. James is my third!

​

My mark making/doodling comes straight from my imagination, and I've tried different styles and different media from acrylics and pastels to collage. Recently I've come full circle, using paint and gel pens, crayons and fineliner pencils, usually on canvas, and often mixed with collage and found- object prints. All of which give my work dimensionality.

​

These pens, pencils and, yes, the crayons, still feel like a natural continuation of my hand (and mind) to canvas. May the connection never be broken...